With a 1-1 draw setting the stage in France, the tension mounts as Atalanta and Olympique Marseille gear up for a decisive clash in the UEFA Europa League.
Bergamo becomes the battleground as these contenders vie for a spot in the final showdown against Bayer Leverkusen or Roma.
Match Preview
Gianluca Scamacca put Atalanta ahead in the first leg, but Chancel Mbemba leveled the score for Marseille later in the first half.
Atalanta managed to secure a draw in France despite Marseille’s dominance, as the latter had 14 shots on goal.
Atalanta heads into the second leg after a 2-1 win over Salernitana, marking their fourth victory in the last five matches across all competitions.
They have lost just one of their 11 Europa League games this season, securing a semi-final spot with a 3-1 aggregate win over Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Marseille drew 1-1 with Atalanta last week and had no league game over the weekend.
After five consecutive defeats between mid-March and mid-April, Marseille has now gone unbeaten in five games, with two wins and three draws.
However, they have struggled for consistency lately, with three wins, two draws, and three losses in their last eight Europa League matches.
Marseille has won only one of their six away games in the Europa League this season, losing three of the last four.
Head-to-Head:
Atalanta and Marseille met for the first time last week, with neither side having an advantage in the H2H statistics.
In the first leg, both teams had a pass accuracy of 77%, but Marseille had 11 corners compared to Atalanta’s one.
Team News & Updates:
Atalanta will likely miss Emil Holm (calf), Sead Kolasinac (muscle), and Rafael Toloi (calf) due to injuries in the second leg.
Marseille also has three injury absentees: Bilal Nadir (knee), Valentin Rongier (knee), and Pedro Ruiz (knee).
Prediction & Analysis
As the tension mounts, expect a closely contested battle between two evenly matched sides.
With both teams displaying a pass accuracy of 77% in the first leg, the upcoming encounter promises tactical intrigue.
Despite Marseille’s corner dominance, Atalanta’s resilience suggests another tight affair.
Considering their recent form and injury setbacks, a low-scoring draw seems likely, setting the stage for an intense battle possibly extending into extra time.
- Atalanta 1-1 Olympique Marseille
